TOM DAVIES revealed how starting his own business helped him to beat depression after a campaign of injury hell.
The midfielder, 25, left boyhood club Everton for Sheffield United a year ago but hamstring trouble restricted him to two starts for the Blades, who were relegated from the Premier League.
Sheffield United’s Tom Davies has a side hustle that involves chopsticksGetty Images – Getty
So he became director of a company called Chop Value UK that recycles chopsticks to turn into furniture.
The Scouser opened a micro-factory in Liverpool after collecting almost FIVE MILLION chopsticks.
He explained: “When you are focused on football and get an injury it can be quite consuming.
“That’s why footballers need outside interests.
“This is the thing I like to do. It’s a nice distraction to have and it’s definitely helped.
“Football gives you a great platform to speak about things that are important — sustainability is one thing, mental health another.
“These are things I care about and building a community, feeling like I am doing good, it really does make me feel full and living a good life.”
Davies also shaved off his trademark shoulder-length hair to raise funds for James’ Place, a charity supporting suicidal men in Liverpool and London.
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The former England Under-21 star added: “When we start getting an income we will start putting some of that back into the community to help homeless charities, mental health, Everton in the Community.
“The city has been great for me and I want to try to help people out.”
Davies started his career at Everton’s academy in 2009 and made his senior debut in 2016.
He went on to score seven goals in 179 matches for the Toffees.
But his final two seasons at Goodison Park saw him make just 25 appearances due to injuries.
Those issues continued at Sheffield Utd, where he featured just nine times as the Blades were relegated.
And Davies will be hoping to be fully fit for the start of the Championship season as he aims for an immediate return to the top flight.
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